he would transfer to columbia university in new york city. >> one day he told me he was transferring to columbia. he had, i think, a need for a more expansive environment, more stimulating urban environment to grow intellectually. so that was his choice. >> he needed to actually physically leave and fly across the country and start again at this much more rigorous school to be barack obama, the promising young scholar intellectual that would grow up to be president. >> narrator: barack obama came east to engage the world, especially the black world. he started by moving to the edge of harlem. >> if we wanted things to be harder for ourselves, we succeeded wonderfully. it was kind of a gritty neighborhood. the apartment next door to us on the third floor was burned out and stayed that way e whe me tt weived there. we had, like, five locks on the door, including one of those bars that you put in after you've gone inside the apartment. >> narrator: a couple of friends from the oxy days joined him. >> i think it was complete intimidation by new york city, which seemed rougher and tougher